Lilian Nyawanda

COMMISSIONER CUSTOMS AND BORDER CONTROL

KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY

Dr. Lilian Nyawanda is the Commissioner, Customs and Border Control Kenya Revenue Authority a role she has held from April 2021. With extensive experience in Customs and International Trade across East Africa and the African continent, Dr. Nyawanda has played a key role in policy and legislative reforms. Her expertise spans public and private sectors as well as academia. As Commissioner, she has driven record revenue performance and championed the adoption of advanced Customs technologies, including system rollouts and integrations. She has also strengthened border controls by enhancing enforcement, opening new border points, and establishing Inland Border Control Checkpoints to combat smuggling and illicit trade. Dr. Nyawanda began her career at KRA in 2003 as a graduate trainee in tax. In 2009, she joined Deloitte as a Senior Consultant for Customs and International Trade before moving to EABL, where she held various roles. In 2019, she transitioned to the Diageo Centre of Excellence, overseeing customs governance, risk management, and international trade operations across Africa. She holds a PhD in Public Policy and Administration and an MPhil in Public Policy from Walden University, as well as an MBA in Strategic Management from USIU-Africa. Dr. Nyawanda is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and the International Public Policy Association (IPPA) and has been awarded Lifetime Membership by the Golden Key International Honor Society.